Colorado man suffers serious injuries in collision with trailer on Highway 165 near Hilmar

A Colorado man was transported to the hospital with injuries following a two-vehicle collision in Merced County, according to authorities.

The crash happened around 9 p.m. Friday on HighwaY 165 just north of River Road and south of the town of Hilmar, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Eric Zuniga. Authorities said 53-year-old Martin Sanchez Montes of Firebaugh was driving a tow truck northbound on Highway 165 towing some type of big rig combination.

Authorities said that for unknown reasons, the trailer from the vehicle he was towing veered into the southbound lane colliding with a Jeep Wrangler as Montes negotiated a curve in the roadway. Zuniga said the driver of the Jeep, a 36-year-old man from Norwood, Colo., was transported to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto with serious injuries.

Montes remained on scene and cooperated with officers, according to Zuniga. The CHP said neither drugs nor alcohol appear to be a factor in the collision which remains under investigation.